america that the political landscape is about to shift? let me give you my thinking on this. what i think we see happening is a change of who we are. see, america is not a country that is based on an ethnic heritage. america is an ideal. you can go and be born in louisiana and move to italy -- i have lived there 50 years and you will never be italian. when my grandfather came to america from italy, he became an american. [applause] .

founding documents. we hear a lot about founding documents. i am talking about different founding documents. the founding documents upon which our founding documents were based for the judeo- were based for the judeo- christian we are the people of western civilization founded upon the bible. we believe in the dignity of every human person because we are created in the image of god. we believe in the collective ability of free and virtuous people to do more for our society them a benevolent, authoritarian government in betwoinstowing rights upon us.

[applause] we believe in free markets and free enterprise. we believe in power of the individual. we believe that families are the basic unit of society and not government. families are responsible for educating and cultivating character in our children. it is not the schools. it is the families. the schools are there to help and not replace the families. [applause] we believe in the things that we are taught from the earliest times of our lives. those of the principles on which our country is based. we believe in the constitution based on the judeo-christian ethics. [applause] there is a truth. there are rights that we have

because god gave them to us. it is the government's job simply to protect those rights. if you look at th -- our constitution and founding documents talk about a creator, these rights endowed by god. the other constitution does not mention the history of christendom. they are a separate country. their country were the government is the diviner of rights. what is at stake in this election is the vision of who we are as americans. it is our aspiration that people are worried about. americans never lived up to our aspirations.

-- america has never lived up to our aspirations. we're human. we fail and fall. the reason people come to this country is not because of who we are, but it is because of who we want to be. [applause] barack obama wants to change who we want to be. he wants to change the vision of america that our founders and generations before and ingrained in all of us. that is why americans are unsettled. they see something bigger than just more of the same washington stuff. it is a bigger and broader vision than his gotten people to be dropped out of their chairs and say, "no.

we're going to fight for america. we're going to fight for our judeo-christian ethic and founding documents. and we will win in november. [applause] i will stop right there. i will be happy to take questions. you will have to find a microphone. where are the microphones? is there someone with a microphone? i cannot see because of the lights. if someone has a microphone, talk. >> over here. >> just start talking.

i will answer you. go ahead. >> i am a little nervous about asking this question. i am so afraid it will sound disrespectful. i think you gave a great speech and meant every word of it. you talked about conservatives letting down conservatism. i am from pennsylvania and live in georgia now. one of the most disheartening times i have in politics was when you and president bush endorsed specrtre to me. many of us want to support the currency, but many of us will not because they will support

arlen specter over us. [applause] >> i appreciate the question. it is one data. about a lot. i thought about the consequences of my actions. what i said repeatedly is that we all make mistakes. we all fail and fall. that is why the story in the bible about people dropping stones around the feet of christ is so poignant. my wife encouraged me at the time not to do what i did. [laughter] [applause] you would figure after 20 years, and would have learned a few things. but i did not listen to her.

i should have. i will be very honest with you. there is one reason i did. the people who were most upset with me about endorsing arlen specter were most upset about the abortion issue. in my 12 years in the senate, no one fought for the issue of abortion more than i did. i endorsed a man who does not share my views on that. the reason i ended up endorsing arlen specter is because we have two supreme court justices coming up in the next few years. we had a narrow majority. i did not know if we were going to keep the majority or not in the next election. i knew we would need moderate republicans and maybe even moderate democrats to confirm bush's appointments to the supreme court. i want to the pro-life judges. for me, that was the most important issue.

i got a commitment out of arlen specter that no matter who george bush would nominee, he would defend the nominee and get us moderate democratic and republican votes. we of justices robert an -- we now have justices roberts and alito. [applause] i know it is easy to stand and cheer and say you have violated your principles. i can just say that i prayed and used what i thought was provincial government to do what i thought was best for the millions of unborn children who die every year in this country. even question my judgment and have every right to do so. -- you can question my judgment and have every right to do so, but please do not question my intentions to do the right thing for unborn babies. [applause] >> rick, i know that we have

praised the tea party group. but the ones we should praise the most are these women's republican organizations. >> absolutely. [applause] >> i would not be today if not for the volunteer activities. i was always supposed to lose. republican women's organizations provided the fuel to whenever fire i could provide. thank you, ladies. god bless you. [applause] doh ahead. -- go ahead. >> my mother and father's first language was french. they were here illegally.

they were hit the recalled speaking french on school grounds or in the classroom. today, we have just about lost our language because of this. our parents would not speak french to me. i have picked it up over the years. today, i have to press 1 for english and i want it stopped. [applause] >> my father came to this country. i am the first generation american. my father always told me the greatest gift he had was to be assimilated and the part of the

american culture because that is the key to success in america. from a purely economic view, teaching children the language of the country is essential for their success in this country. [applause] when we do not do that, we put them at a disadvantage. secondly, this country has been called many things. we are a melting pot. we're not a mosaic. we're not individual units that make a picture. we blend together with a common understanding of who we are. i am not suggesting that we need to keep to that understanding of america as a melting pot and that the american ideal is universal in different parts of the country. >> we enjoy you every friday

morning. is it not time for the leadership of the republican party to step forward, admit the mistakes that have been made, and differentiate the republican party from the democratic party and restate our principles and values clearly? [applause] >> i think you are seeing that more and more. gov. rick perry was up here. you are hearing what i have said. other leaders outside of washington are admitting that. i think he will find the leaders inside washington believe that. i agree with you the need to be more forthright. we will not convince the american public to trust again unless we can demonstrate to them that we understand what is

needed in america and we understand the role of limited government and we're going to deal with these huge problems. we have to be willing to stand up and say tough things. there are leaders in washington who have stepped forward and talk about programs that have to be cut. they talk about things we have to do to get our fiscal house in order. you are seeing signs of that. i will turn its back on you. you have to hold the key to the fire of the folks in washington that is why what we're seeing here is so vitally important. that is what i take the risk of having the not most complementary questions asked. if you want to connect to the

american people and get people excited, if you are going to have to follow through with it when you get elected. >> since the 1930's, our federal government has acquired more power by using the commerce clause@@@@@@@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ >> isn't it time we had eight national constitutional convention to read-write of the commerce clause? >> and no! >> i agree with the crowd. the constitution is just fine. [applause]

this is an issue that you are going to hear more and more about. you hear about it on the issue of marriage. you will hear it on another issue. it is not the constitution that is the problem. it is the courts that are the problem. [applause] we have this doctrine that people think is in the constitution but it is not. it is judicial review. it says the courts have the last say as to what is constitutional. that comes from a court case called margueribury versus madi. we have adhered to it because throughout most of american history, the courts of done what the founding fathers believed they would do. that is to practice judicial restraint.

they would try to be a neutral arbiter and allow the issues the congress and the president should handle to the work of other bodies. that has changed. you are seeing movements. you are seeing it in iowa with the supreme court forcing the issue of marriage. you will see constitutional challenges to the courts and their ability to be the super- legislature. i think that is one of the coming battles. the courts should practice judicial restraint. [applause] >> thank you, senator. i am 72 years old. >> happy birthday.

>> for 50 of those years, and was a sustaining member of the republican party. i am kind of proud of that, or are used to be. for the last couple of years, things have changed. i think there's plenty of blame to go around to both republican and democratic parties. i have been to one town hall meeting or one t party meeting. and that common people there like myself. i am an old farmer and cowboy. -- annette, and people there like myself. i saw reflected their my values. we do not care what party you are from. what we hear is what you believe in. that is the person i am going to support in the future. [applause] >> i appreciate that. [applause]

i keep coming thaback to that te republican party is not the chairman. it is you. you are the republican party. i always say this. it is incumbent upon you. the tea party people have spoken up. you can speak up within the republican party and have a huge impact. i know a lot of them are because they come to the sentence. that is vitally important. this is a democracy. we're not going to be out doing things -- if we say charge and no one follows, this is not going to work. this party is made up of people. i would encourage you. by encourage you to -- i encourage you to speak loudly

and often. speak with your dollars and her volunteer hours. -- speak with your dollars and/or volunteer hours. >> this lady would like to ask you a question. >> bless your heart. [applause] -- this lady would like to give you some flowers. >> was your heart. -- was your heart. >> she is from the town where my father grew up. there's an important election going on. the candidate's name is tim burns. the latest poll shows we're up by four points. it is the only district in the country that george bush lost and john mccain won. it is a district where we can

win. we need your help. if you can help out tim burns, we can pull off a big surprise in johnstown, pennsylvania. >> in the tea party member from the fourth district. you spoke about exactly how i think we said we talk the talk and do not walk the walk. i am concerned with the republican national committee selecting candidates that will be republicans and not conservatives. in the fourth district of mississippi, we have that situation. it looks like the good old boys are supporting one person and the rest of the people are supporting someone else. >> go beat them. that is what elections are all about. i encourage candidates to run. even if you do not win, the fact

that you have run the race in shown there is concern -- the point is to do it. do it. i think is healthy for the party to have the primaries. it is healthy to get people out and excited. this is where we have to focus our energy in the primaries to make sure that we elect a conservative candidates in the republican primary. i agree with you 100%. [applause] >> [unintelligible] [laughter] >> should the rnc get involved in local primaries? >> all i can say is to prove them wrong. that is the best way to send a message to washington.

prove them wrong and go out and let folks. we are at a consequential time. . . i remind you, that the greatest generation of americans, as great as they were, did not seek to be the greatest generation. many did not step up to the challenge. thought i remind everybody that in 1940, the united states did nothing. as the pacific was being overrun by the japanese, the united states did nothing. winston churchill pleaded with

the united states, and we did nothing as the bombs dropped on our closest allies. we sat and we did nothing. it is because we like to think that things will be ok. we just need to live our lives. we need to take care of ourselves. there is a movement within our party to do the same thing. just focus on us. we cannot do that. i remind everybody that in the summer of 1941, the congress came within one a vote of appealing to the draft repealing the draft. as unprepared as we were, we would have been more unprepared if that had happened. sometimes we feel our job is just to take care of ourselves, our families and our

communities. but this is one of those times we cannot afford to do that. this is one of these times when we have to step up and engage, not just in your own community, but all across this country where there are racists -- races. we need to focus on that november, and we will change the course of this country. thank you. [applause] ♪ >> thank you for that wonderful

introduction and you're wonderful warm words. it is great to be back in new orleans. my last time here was almost one year to the day after that heartbreaking day in 2005. [laughter] not that one. i am talking about katrina, men and women. i walked the streets. i saw the recovery pyrrhic i have to tell you, visit is eyeing -- i saw the recovery. i have to tell you, it is so heartening for me to see that new orleans is coming back. we hoosiers like a lot of things that come out of this city, cajun food, mardi gras, peyton manning. [laughter] other than the outcome of the most recent super bowl, there is nothing we don't like about

n'awlins. all right. see you next year. you know, i am really honored and, frankly, a humbled to address the largest ever gathering of the southern republican leadership conference. thank you for making that a reality. [applause] to be honest with you, i am a little nervous. i am not used to addressing a crowd of this size. i was running late to a meeting this other day. i came running up to the steps of the auditorium. the fellow who organized it was standing there nervously. i looked into the auditorium and there were five people there. i said to him and, "there are just five people for my speech

?" he said, "tsr -- yes, sir." i said, "did you not tell them that i am of the speaker?" he said, "no answer, but i am going to find out here did -- no, sir, but i am going to find out towho did." [laughter] all you need to know about me is that i am the father of a it two teenagers, and the white hair, the husband of a it proud graduate of a butler university, and the most important thing, and i am christian, a conservative, and a republican, in that order. [applause]

what a difference a year makes. following our election losses in 2006 and 2008 cummin, most republicans were still unsure about our principles, but we were uncertain about the future. there was a feeling of a glamor of the new american left. there was a one-party liberal government in washington, d.c. barack obama had a 120% approval rating according to msnbc. [laughter] no, seriously. his approval rating was over 65% in all 57 states. [laughter] [applause] unprecedented democrat majorities in both houses, and

unchallenged liberal dominance in the media, the courts, the public schools, and everywhere. it was a forced that seemed indomitable to everybody but you. look at what we have done. historic elections for republicans in virginia, in new jersey comeuppance -- in a new jersey, and the state formerly known as taxachussettes now has a republican into the senate. who would have thunk it? your enthusiasm has been contagious. even republicans in congress are returning to their commitment to fiscal discipline and a reform. [applause]

let's be honest. three years ago, republicans in congress did not just lose their majority, they lost their way. [applause] when i opposed no child left behind, the medicare prescription drug bill, the wall street bailout, i knew that if we kept acting like a big government liberals, eventually the american people would just go with the professionals. that is what they did. the truth is, we walked away from the principles that have always been part of our governing majority, and the american people walked away from us spir. but every single house republicans voted against the stimulus bill and the government

takeover of health care. republicans are back in the fight and they are back in the fight on the right. [applause] especially when it comes to obama-care. i know democrats think that is over. they passed their bill and it is time to move on. let me be clear about one thing. democrats may have had their way on the third sunday in march, but to the american people are going to have their say on the first tuesday in november. [applause] i pledged to you this.

house republicans will not rest until we have repealed a that a government takeover of health care law, stock, and a barrel. [applause] i know the president does not think we can. >> yes, we can! >> on his first stop on the obama-care world tour in 2010, the president actually said to advocates of a repeal of, "and go for it." well, mr. president, count on

it. [applause] weekend repealed and replaced obama-care -- we can repealed and replaced obama-care a whit real malpractice reform, ending the surge of a junk lawsuits once and for all. [applause] now, to those who say it will be too hard to repeal and replace, i say it is a two-step process. we repeal the bellows a congress in 2010, and we replaced the obama administration -- we repealed the policelosi congresn

2010, and we replaced the obama administration in its 2012. we have made great strides in the last year. but there is a lot more to do. it is only half time in this locker room. we are ahead on the scoreboard, but there is a lot of time left on o'clock. as hoosiers saw on monday night, you can fight them all night long, but you can still lose when the clock runs out. we cannot rest until we win back the american congress for the american people. [applause] so, how do we do it?

a couple of thoughts. first, we have to stay focused. destruction is the enemy of the success -- destraction is the enemy of success. politics and the airwaves are always filled with speculation. who is up, who is down, who is next? we have to look past the temptation to look past the next election. as the coach said right before the national championship game, and we have got to focus on the next possession. the next possession for republicans and the american people is election day 2010. men and women, we have got to take that hill. [applause]

secondly, to win back america, to win the back of the american congress for the american people, we need to campaign as conservatives. [applause] to face the enormous challenges ahead, we do not need just a republican majority on capitol hill, we need a conservative majority on capitol hill. [applause] we need men and women committed to fight for a strong defense, limited government, and traditional american values without apology and without acrimony. i like to tell people that i am conservative, but i am not in a bad mood about it. we need to find happy warriors.

men and women who will take our message to every community and every neighborhood regardless of race and creed and color. our ideas and know no bounds in america. jack kemp taught me that. [applause] lastly, we have got to show the american people that we know what is at stake in this election. we must offer a compelling vision for a better america, grounded in the timeless principles of the declaration of independence and the constitution of the united states of america. [applause] you know, despite the political gains of the past year, america is changing. she is not changing for the better. a nation conceived in liberty has come of age in the bond it

to big government. we have lost put it -- we have lost respect in the world. we are going broke, and our social and cultural fabric is unraveling. i am told that officials in this administration will actually say in private that they see their job as, "managing american decline." let me say that from my heart. as a student of the history of this great land, the job of the american president is not to manage american decline, the job of the american president is to reverse it. [applause] in the face of their failed leadership, our party must produce a vision for a better america that will return our national government to the common sense and common values of the american people.

what would that look like? first and foremost, it means rededicating ourselves to doing what is necessary to defend this nation at, and abroad, giving our american soldier everything they need to get the job done and come home safe. [applause] defending the nation means keeping all of our options on the table to deter our enemies and protect our friends, including nuclear weapons. [applause] history teaches that the weakness arouses evil. telling our enemies what we will never do with our most powerful weapons makes no sense at all.

it means giving our intelligence community the tools they need to fight the war on terror like a war. we must end the era of putting international public relations ahead of public safety. terrorists and their cohorts should not be tried in civilian courts. they should be tried in at guantanamo bay where they belong. [applause] you know, it also means being good to our friends and tough on our enemies, not the other way around. [applause] the recent controversy over israel's construction of apartment buildings in jerusalem

was appalling. i never thought i would live to see the day when an american administration would denounced the jewish state of israel for building on the jewish land. let the world know this if it knows nothing else. america stands with israel. [applause] >> ko'd usausa!

usa! usa! >> closer to home we also have to offer a better vision for america. that begins with offering in the american people and effective a pathway to restore true and fiscal discipline to our national government. since world war ii, our government has operated with a deficit of 20% of our national economy. but under runaway spending by both political parties, right now, federal spending is nearing 25% of gdp. in the years ahead, without any new spending or programs, we will reach more than 40% of our grote -- our gross domestic

product by the middle of this century spir. this fiscal path is unsustainable, and it cannot be solved with minor tinkering. we have done all lot of minor tinkering in the past. we tried commissions. we tried a line item vetoes. they have all failed. the time has come to limit federal spending to 20% of our nation pose the economy in the constitution of the united states of america -- of our nation's economy in the constitution of the united states of america. [applause] only a spending limit in the constitution will be powerful enough to restrain the growth is facing our children.

if god can get by on a 10 present time, and gulf sam ought to be able to keep it -- on a 10%, and gulf sam ought to be able to get by on -- uncle sam ought to be able to get by on a 20%. fiscal discipline alone will not be enough. we also need to renew incentives to create, build, a chief, xl. permit people to enjoy the fruits of our labor. this is what made america the most powerful economy in the the history of the world. we must renew incentives. but that is not the president's approach. i was with him in baltimore on

estate just like this at a republican retreat. i had to ask him twice if he would support across-the-board tax cuts, the way john kennedy did, the way ronald reagan did. as near as i can tell, he said he would support across-the- board tax cut, as long as they were not across the board. [laughter] you know, they have a phobia on that side of the aisle about tax credits for the bridge. it reminds me of a story about ronald reagan. when he was campaigning in 1980 in ohio, a man walked up to him and said, "i heard you are getting a into a lot of trouble over your tax cut for the rich. but i want you to do at those tax cut for the rich, because i have never been hired by a poor mani." [laughter] [applause]

to reverse the economic decline in this country, we need fiscal discipline in washington pyrrhic -- in washington. get government out of the way, and america will come roaring back, i promise unyou. finally, to win back america we must recognize that our present crisis is not merely an economic and political, but moral in nature. at the root of these times should be a realization. people in the positions of authority have walked away from the time honored principles of honesty, integrity, an honest day's work for an honest day's

pay, and that old fashioned notion that you ought to treat the other by the way you want to be treated. the truth is, we have to get back to basics. we will not restore this nation with public policy alone. it will require public virtue, and that and eight straight out of the traditional values -- that emanates straight out of the traditional values of people of faith. we must renew our commitment to that. i believe that ending a human life is morally wrong. it is also morally wrong to take the taxpayer dollars of millions of pro life americans and used them to fund abortions at home and abroad. [applause]

this administration has opened the floodgates of providing and promoting support for abortion overseas. the largest part -- the largest abortion provider in america should not be the recipient of federal funding. the time has come to deny all federal funding to planned parenthood of america. [applause] if you are taking notes, that is how we win back america. stay focused. elect a conservative congress. we in the back of the right to govern -- win back the right to

govern with a better vision for america. this is our moment. now is the time. it is time to do all that we can to preserve what makes this country great. i say to all of you gathered here, if you can give, give. if you can speak, speak. if you can write, write. and if you can run, run it. [applause] now is the time to do all that we can to win this country back. as you take to that field in the next seven months to freedom's work, know this. you will not fight alone. engraved on at the liberty bell

are words of admonition from an ancient text. it reads, "proclaim liberty throughout the land, and unto all the inhabitants thereof." that same book also says, "where the spirit of the lord is, there is liberty." translation, when we do at freedom's or, we have truly made his work on earth our own. you will not fight alone. [applause] men and women of the southern republican leadership conference, we must not be afraid. we must fight for what has always been the source of american greatness, our faith in and got and our freedom.

if we hold that banner high, i believe with all my heart, the good and great people of this plan will rally to our cause. we will take this congress back in 2010, and we will take this country back in 2012, and so help us god. [applause] thank you. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2010] >> this year epazote student camp competition asked student -- this year's student camera

competition asked student to make a documentary about the things affecting us right now. here is some -- here is a sample of one of the winners. >> the obesity crisis in the united states cannot be overstated. >> things were different 50 years ago. mom's stayed at home and prepared meals for their families. now, kids have about five hours of screen time a day between tv, video games, and the computer. now they take the bus to school instead of a walking. as 2008, we have become a fast

food nation. as a consequence, childhood obesity has more than doubled since 1980. now, one in seven low income preschool students are obese. this is a challenge and that affects us all. to get a medical, professional view on that childhood obesity, i talked to my pediatrician. doctor, can you define it childhood obesity for us? >> it is actually measured in the percentiles on a growth curve, or by a calculation called the body mass index. >> what are the medical consequences of childhood obesity? >> hypertension, which is high blood pressure, high cholesterol, bone problems,

organ problems like the lungs and hearts. there is another entity called diabetes. there is one of four kids who are overweight called type 2 diabetes. this affects children who have had too much to eat or have taken in it too many calories, but have not burned them off. sometimes it takes just a little adjustment, perhaps not eating high calorie foods or sugary drinks. sometimes it is just as easy as getting a little more playtime or activity. >> we are surrounded by calorie rich fruit -- calorie rich foods. they are cheap and indispensable.

even if you want healthier food, you may not have the resources to buy them. nutritious approved are expensive. nutritious foods also require time-consuming preparation. calorie dent foods are easy to eat. eight to 18 year-old spend about four hours a day watching tv, videos, or dvd is. they what about 20 hours per week. that is time not being spent outdoors getting exercise. at the same time, school sports programs are being sharply cut back. it is hard to make the balance between nutrition and exercise work out. childhood obesity has been recognized as a national problem. >> it is true that childhood

obesity has become one of the most pressing challenges facing our nation. >> children are overweight, and at the department of health and human services estimates that by 2010, one in five children will be obese. >> the number one crisis our children are facing today is not cancer, accidents, drugs or alcohol or smoking, it is the advent of childhood of the city. -- of childhood obesity. >> they may never live to their fullest potential. >> economic factors are a big part of the problem. >> in many communities, you can buy a weapon sometimes quicker than you can buy a nutritious bowl of food.

>> there are just not a lot of the supermarkets. we are in a nutritional and desert. >> many people need more options for living a healthy lifestyle. >> kids are not walking to school. they are taking a bus. when they are in the school, there is a very little physical activity. when they are out of school, they are sitting down. >> a lot of parents are very afraid. there are not enough parks or recreational centers for them to go to, and they should not go without their parents at a certain age. >> for many kids, schools are the only lifeline that they have. they are the safety net it's a it's where kids can eat well and get enough exercise. >> i really do believe it has to be in the curriculum of the school.

it is impossible to develop a healthy mind without a healthy body. >> schools should be encouraged to insure that kids are active during the school day. >> there are three healthy habit our children should follow every day. first, never skip breakfast. second, played outside one hour per day. third, eat five servings of fruits and vegetables per day. >> at first, on a national level, we can pass the "a fit kids act" to help bring back education about physical fitness in our public schools. >> the government can also create regulation about how a food can be marketed to kids. we can reward farmers who grow

healthy food and help families, especially low income families, by nutritious products. >> childhood obesity is a complex problem that requires a complex solutions, but the challenge is clear. we must improve nutrition. we must encourage exercise. we must all work together. to raise a generation of healthy, fit citizens for the 21st century. . .

healthy, fit citizens for the >> good morning. >> good morning. on this beautiful sprin and historic to the white state dining room in the white house for a dialogue on childhood obesity and childhood health with first lady michelle obama. we are live on c-span this morning and plazzed to have students from automatic around the washington, d.c. area and students watching from all across the country. some-them will be calling in for discussion. we will be here for 45 minutes

all together and hope to learn more on this topic and why it's so important to our young people's health and why the first lady is so passionate about it. will you please join me in welcoming michele obama to our discussion this morning. [applause] >> hello, everybody. >> well, hello. >> hello. >> well, we're just going to plunge right into it. as i get started i thought -- i'll ask you a question -- i had a very important question as we were getting ready this morning, mrs. obama from a young woman in the back. we keep using the big word obesity and a young man didn't know what it meant. >> it is a big word but to make it simple is when people's weight gets higher than it should be. and there are very scientific

measurements for it. something called body mass index is what a lot of doctors try to measure. but as you grow your weight and your height should remain fairly consistent. but people's body mass index really varies. so there's no one right height or weight to be. we have people in my family who are 6'6" and 4'1" 1 and weight and height really depend on you, as a person. but what this is all ant, really, is about making sure that you guys are healthy. that you're eating the right foods, that you're getting enough exercise. this isn't about how you look. this suspect about appearances, because we all have to own and be proud of exactly who we are. i am 5'1" 1. i was probably this height when i was very young, and my parents taught me to be proud of how i look and this isn't about how i look.

this is about how you guys feel and your health. so i think that's the big take away. and you can talk to the doctors and experts and scientists if you wambt to get a more definitive answer to what obesity technically is. but it's really about our health, your health. does that help? >> all right. good. it's a good way to start. >> the way this all came together is students around the country have participated in a national documentary contest our network holds called student cam and this year we had 1,000 from all around the country but interestingly health was the number one sh, 121 issues on health so it was much on their minds. economy number two. but today we're going to meet one of the special document theriens, matthew who was here as first prize. he's been thinking about childhood obesity. welcome, matt. congratulations on your winning

documentary. we also have young people who entered the contest who are watching and also on the topic of tchood obesity is to they aritying about this and have questions for you. i'm going to ask you to stand up with the group when i call the name of your school so your parents can see you're here. first of all where's the half sted community? welcome. >> in washington d.c. 6-8. stuart hobson. >> looking good. >> next alexander korea virginia liles crouch elementary school. >> hello. >> and we've got a group of girl scouts from the national capital region who have been involved in health and wellness issues. welcome, ladies. >> how about the alliance for a healthier generation. >> good morning. >> and we have a number of student journalists covering this event. >> oh, goodness, the journalists. >> the professionals always in

the back. >> watching. >> yes. >> and is there any person who hasn't had a chance to hand? >> make sure you stand up because your parents are watching. >> great. >> you could -- if you could begin by telling us. in the past every first lady has had a special issue. mrs. reagan was worried about drug use by young people. mrs. bush was worried about literacy. how did you come to this issue and why? >> as a mom way before we were anywhere near coming to the white house. you guys know i have these two beautiful little girls malya and sasha. they are not so little now, but i was like a lot of your parents. you know, i worked a job. my husband worked a job. we were very busy. you're trying to make sure you're doing the right thing as a mom and keeping your job together, and our health habits

got way out of kilter, because we were eating out too much. i didn't have time to cook. i had to buy a lot of quick packaged things so my kids were drinking a lot of quick sugarry they think so and we were probably eating too many things out of a box. so we were doing probably what most of your parents do because you're just trying to get to the -- through the day and there's too many activities and shuffling through work and missing dinner together. we were living that life, and it seemed fine. i thought i was in criminal control until one of my kids pediatrician tapped me on the shoulder, because he was regularly measuring the b.m.i., the body mass index and we were lucky that we had a pediatrician that tchecked accurately, because we live in the south side of chicago, predominantly african-american

issue and weight issue and he was tracking that. and he said you may want to watch it. and i didn't think we had a problem because i look at my kids and i see perfection, just like your parents see. you're perfect. you're beautiful. it wasn't that they with respect but things were just tipping over to the point that we needed to make some changes. so we made some pretty simple changes in our household and made sure we had under flutes and vegetables and we ateqxx ou little bit less and limited desserts toal weekends. i know. not every day. >> i took out sugery drinks. my kids were drinking more water. we made sure they were exercising or moving around during the day so no tv during the week. so those changes made pretty significant difference. my view was if i could make those kind of changes, and it could help my family in such a

sfabt way, i wanted to make sure we were doing that with the rest of the country because my view is if i'm having this problem in my household and i didn't know it and it was unclear to me, what's going on with everybody else? people who don't have the information or pediatrician that is are working with them. so when we planted the white house kitchen guard an year ago, we did it to start a conversation with young people about eating healthy. maybe they would get more engaged in frusion and vegetables if they were involved until growing them. and what we found in working with kids that helped me with the guard season if kids planted it and were involved in it they would eat it and be excited about it. and they would help not only change their onil health habits but go back home and start teaching their parents. so once i started talking to my kids about what they needed to eat, they were monitoring me

way more than i was monitoring them. they cleaned out the cabinets and looked at labels a bit more. they made zegses about the kind of snacks they would eat. they started to make pretty healthy choices for themselves and a lot of times when i wanted to cheat, they pulled me back. so my hope is is that young people around the country will take that kind of interest in their own health and then to see the statistics, to see that one in three kids in this country is overweight or obese and that we're on track for the first time ever for our kids to live shorter lives than we do. that in and of itself was terrifying enough for me. i would want want that fate for my girls and i don't want it for any of you or any other kids in this country, so we started let's move! and hopefully it will catch on, and you guys are going to be the key ambassadors to really make this happen. because this is really about you and the kids that are going

to follow you. i'll stop there. i can go on and on and on. >> how can they be ambassadors? >> i think first you can take the lead in your own homes. this is what i tell my kids. my girls. you know, it's not about never having the stuff you want, right? i would love it if i could live healthy on pie and french fries. i'd do it. butal the fact of the matter is that you can't. we are made as humans to need a balanced diet with enough fiber and vegetables and fruits, and we have to be educated about what that diet should look like, and then we have to start making choices to not to not have candy every date and place and to got ask for those desserts all the time even if you can and learn how to cook for yourselves. bake a little chicken and make

pasta and put more water in your diet. those are decisions at your age. you're the age of my girls. you guys can make those zegses and you can help your parents, because they are tv and if you complained and didn't want to try new things, if you were going to get that -- buy those chips instead of some pretzels, if you're not going to make good decisions there's not a lot parents can do because you're not with us all the time. you're at school, with your friends, so my whole goal for my kids is to try to get them to think about the choices they are going to make in their own lives and i tell them it's not about who they are today. it's who they want to be when they are 20 and 2 5. i have them thinking about what kind of mom are you going to be? if you don't learn how to feet yourself, how are you going to feed your own kids? so it's really about you guys

taking responsibility of your own future in so many ways and helping your parents and families make those kinds of decisions. i think that's the first thing you can do, because that's your power. you don't have to live in a certain neighborhood. you don't have to know anything minor make better decisions for yourself and be willing to make some of those decisions on your own. you don't need a teacher or parent to do it. tough power to do it and once you do it your parents will follow. they know. >> let's introduce matt in the front row coming all the way to the white house from honolulu. we're very proud of the documentary. and the dew pointry on childhood obesity took first childhood obesity took first place in

the contest. you have been thinking about this for a while. what got you interested? the public schools do not have schools on friday. they do not have lunch or p/e on those days. they are lacking in nutrition. i thought that could lead to childhood obesity, so i chose that. >> why did you learn lawmaking your film? >> i learned to make a great documentary and express my ideas through filmmaking. >> we are going to show a minute of this for our viewers around the country. here in the room, you will just hear the audio of the documentary. then we will come back and have a question from mrs. obama. >> we live in a land of abundance, surrounded by rich foods. it is easy to take into many calories. calorie dense foods are cheap and plentiful, brands familiar to the shoppers and their kids.

even if somebody wants help the food, they may not have the resources to buy help the food. after all, nutritious foods are expensive. nutritious foods also require time-consuming preparation. calorie dense foods are easy to eat. eight to 18 year-old spend about four hours a day watching tv, dvd is, and video games. the nielsen company reports that kids ages 6 to 11 watch about 28 hours of tv a week. that is time not spent outdoors gaining exercise. at the same time, school exercise programs are being sharply cut back. but it is hard to make the balance of nutrition and exercise work out. >> that was matthew doing the voice-over on his documentary as well. do you have a question for mrs.

obama? >> how do you think the government can improve nutrition in schools? >> i think that first of all -- one thing i want to say is the solution to this challenge has to come from the bottom up. the government can't be in a position of telling people what to do in their own homes. that generally does not work. it is really going to require all of us working together -- the federal government, business leaders, food manufacturers, farmers, students, nurses -- everyone has to come together. specifically, when you think about the federal government, when it comes to school lunches, the child nutrition reauthorization act is one of the ways that the government supports school lunches. childhood nutrition we offer --

re-authorization act is one of the ways in which the government supports school lunches. and one of the things we're trying to get done, because it's time for it to be re authorized. to put into combhementing that act so we there's much less processed foods, the quality goes up, because a large percentage of kids in this country are getting half of their meals at school. so if we can do a better job in the schools providing better option that is are healthier, then we're going to -- but the fact also works to encourage more schools to become u.s. health yir schools. and these are schools that are designated as already taking those steps to change the way they do things, providing healthier meals, incorporating

new strigs education into the curriculum. making sure that they are making time for physical activity and recess, because in many schools around this country with budget cuts omp times being the first thing to go so there are schools out there that are finding ways to put back, kind of, exercise and activity back into the curriculum. the healthier schools challenge works to recognize that. >> and we're going to show you hundreds of foods to. through the fda, food and drug administration, we can work with grocery manufacturers to make sure the foods produced in this store have labels on them that help families make decisions. because when you walk in that

grocery store you walk down the aisle until my kids know the brand. they know the commercial. but when a mom or dad picks up the cereal, how do you know many this is something nutrition? and how many servings and right now fur locking for a downal -- so we're trying to work with the food manufacturers to simple phi those things so you guys can walk in and look at the foods and make zegs about what actually is going to be healthy and how much of it canuck r to have more importantly, this is an effort that's going to require everyone. no one's off the hook on this one. >> our next question is going to come from a student in oklahoma who is watching us, afterward we'll take a question from the room. who has a zpwhe yes?

alexander england who is watching us in oklahoma. goes to jenks high school and his winning documentary was childhood obesity, we appreciate him. >> good morning miss obama, it is an honor to talk with you this morning. >> good morning alex and der, thank you for calling in. what's your question? >> i interviewed the haven't of a fast food chain and rarely sees parents make choices based on how heathy the food is but yet the price. with that do you think the you know, you're absolutely right the cost of healthy foods becomes a barrier. >> the ack access and

affordibility is a huge issue. and with let's move, that's one of our major pillers. there are millions of kids who live in area all throughout the country that we call food deserts, those are places where there isn't a grocery store or a place to buy fresh produce, healthy food. there are a lot of people who live in communities where the only access from food comes in the form of a convenience store or gasation. imagine trying to feed your family with -- when the closest grocery store is a train ride or cab ride oar car ride away? there are smlsfoffsfofe >> we are looking at starting a healthier food finance initiative modeled after some of the efforts that have been

done. taking money from the treasury department and department of agriculture to try to leverage resources to encourage more grocery stores to relocate in underserved commuents. >> that way, not only do you help to eliminate the food desert sure, but you can create jobs, you can build economies around new grocery stores relocating through communities. asaw this first hand in philadelphia in a community that hadn't had goesry store in it for a beck aid. so you're 10 years old and sauer growing up in a community where your mom dependant go in and buy tomp and in pennsylvania they were able tom: partner with a chain

sthoor came in. this grocery store is amazing. it looks like any whole foods store that you would see in any comminet. fresh produce, fresh vegetables, everything you could imagine, and the excitement this community feels over having this resource that they haven't seen could just turn this community upside down with excitement. >> so our thought is if they can't do it in philadelphia and other places there's no way or reason why we can't replicate that model all over the country. >> a question. >> -- you think schools and students should tell students what they shuled and shouldn't eat while we're there. you know, many schools are already doing this. one of the things i said in a speech that i did to some of

the school lunch ladies. the association, they were here in washington, and i said we have to remember that learning doesn't femple -- one of the most important classrooms in the school. and yes, during that time, and not just that time alone, but by exposing kids to different types of foods, helping them get introduced encouraging kids to try to tie helping the they haven't tried. they may try some things in the bottom ogg but nutrition-education is an important part of the curriculum. and there are many figuring out ways to support the commercial and they have wutch community gardens. and are using those gardens to not just teach science but to

teach reading and math. and along the way, if you're useding the garden, you're also helping kids, once again, become exposet and when kids see that in the classroom they may be more inclined to try this at home. this is why raising the folve -- so how do we scale that up? how do we take those best practice, and make sure they are happening in all schools around the country. and it's going to take some resources and it's doing to take the folks who stride food for these schools. there are companies throughout that get contracts to preserve the issue and we want to make sure the lunches they are

providing aren't just cheap and easy but low in fat and salt and sugar. and many of them have already agreed they will do a better job. we have to hold their feet to the fair to. look at the lunches you are being provided. talk to your teachers to because the more you educate yourselves, you guys can step in the and so many ways, showly but surely, you can change the culture in our own environments. >> mrs. obama talk about the fact that she plant ad garden here. how many students in this room have a 2k3w5rden at home. >> and how many of you who don't, i mean, a bart doesn't have how many of you are going to talk to your parents about planting? confidents. who in this room has a question? >> all right. you'll billion next this is

sarah in kreider falls, iowa an honorable mention winner in our contest. and her video was improving school lunch, too closetly or a way to bend the cost curve. 12k3 you're on the line now. with miss obama. what's your problem? >> i go to a pub luck school where they recently tried is to implement higher nutritional stads but because pat find out so i was wondering if you have any idea about how schools might thards issue? >> yes. sarah, thanks for the question. you make a great point about the vending machines and a la carte lines. foe and wanted to make sure you had healthy omses. i a. a a proponent of vending

machines because when you all are hungry you're going to look toward a vending machine. the question is what do we have in those vending machines. there's nothing wrong with them but you can have a healthy sports drink or water or trail mix and pretzels, nuts, crackers, cheese, so many things kids could eat to what's there. so i think that's a part of what we need to do as we work through these nutrition demrines that we can't just look at the footh food on the cafeteria line but all the foods available to our children and again, that's why this isn't a problem that can be involved by the federal government. the school community the local community has to want to make these changes and decisions about what's going to go in those vending machines as

opposes to trying to what happens in your schools around communities is troll you and your mayors and your city count still sfemple -- folks know still sfemple -- folks know their communities better than >> we have to make sure that all of the options are good ones, not just some of them. you will find a way to get to that bag of chips. >> how many of you feel you have an option in your vending machines at school to have a healthy choice if you want one? raise your hand if you have options. looks like we have a little work to do. what is your question. >> i am an eighth grader. my question is about labelling

on nutrition labels. i wanted to ask what regulations will you put in place so we can eliminate -- we can ensure that false labeling does not obscure nutritious facts? >> the fda is going to be working with chris restore manufacturers this summer to work on the issue of labeling. -- is going to be working with grocery store manufacturers this summer to work on the issue of labeling. they want to be helpful. this is one of the easy ways that can be helpful, is figuring out how you make simple, clear, accurate labels that give the facts in a way that the average consumer -- the average purchaser, can figure it out and trust in the information. the food and drug administration is going to be setting up new guidelines for labels. we want to do it with the help of the grocery store folks because it is their product.

we are hopeful they will join in. you are right. you cannot tell families to make smart decisions if they are confused about what to buy. can't tell family members to make smart decisions if they are confused as to what to buy. how they market to kids. dwropt quote percentages but there are a lot of commercial that is come on kid tv programs. my kids are watching it. the sugery foods to foe that's what you guys are see ago lot of. and one of the things we're asking is that as those grocery store manufacturers think about the products they are going to market to kids, what percentage of those products are really helpful and how much of it is reel -- hold up of it is real.

so you are not bombarded with stuff saying this sugery stuff is really what you want. and it's not enough just to change not marketing the not so good stuff but help us market the good stuff to you. and they know how to sell stuff. all of you could raise your hand and make the not but if you're hearing those same songs and messages about good foods, trust me, those ideas and thoughts will be ringing in your head as much as the sugery foods are. so we need to do a better job of getting you all the information. the information that you need to make good choices. >> once again let's see a hand for a future question. >> in the blue, next but first we're going to take a call from

kyle street. kyle is an honorable mention winner from his video call. he is a student at the and avenue first of all i'd like to say thank you for this opportunity and in our small, rural community, volunteers have just start ad program to moment healthier lifestyles. children start organizing physical activities at a young age. our elementary school offers punishment e. class twice a week and recess. mrs. o'basma. as you mentioned physical education programs recall getting canceled or cut forecast zm thanks for the question, kyle. and it's important. i spent a lot of time talking about food. the food side of this equation. but as kyle points out, the

physical activity piece is just as important. because the truth is when i was growing up as a kid. we didn't worry about what we ate. and we ate the cupcakes and this. we didn't eat it every day, but the difference was when i was growing up, every kid i knew foe geros wouldn't see you there. and to that i hadn't seen since you were born. and your parents were about to kim you out of the house. >> now my kids could watch sponge bob 24 hours a day, same shows over and over and over again. i even knowal all the episodes. [laughter] >> so you guys just have -- you've got computers, your ipod, a lot of what you're drawn to has nothing to do with movement.

you know? and in you're not signed up with an activity or you don't have a bala class in your -- all these after school programs are just really, really expensive for parents and families. if you're not demaged in any of that, a lot of times kids nowadays are just sitting in front of your tv, watching, playing on the video games. and guidelines basically say that kids should be getting 60 minutes of exercise every singal day. that's really what you're supposed to do. right? and when i was little, 60 metropolitans of play outside was nothing. tv's just play. so they think so have gotten tough for you in so many ways. not just in schools but outside often school to figure out how do we get you guys moving

again. and i guess some of that is on you all the. some of that is choices that you make, because you're at the age thousand where you can make a decision to sit in front of the tv or get up and jump rope or walk up and down the starings or do a pushup or figure out something like turn on the radio and dance. exercise certainty about sports. it's not always about throwing a ball. it's aboutmologist. and those are some choices you have to make, but we have to do a better job in giving you guys 07pingss to play. and sounds like what they are doing is what we need to have happen engine all communities across this country. where the adults, the mayors and city officials an business people and the community groums and churches are figuring out how do we open up parks and spaces for you guys to play? how do we organize places to

play and open up gym facilities for longer periods of time. those solutions have to come from the bottom up, because it's going to be different in every community. but getting you guys smoving because we really don't have time to wait. we fofe and not make physical activity a regular part of your lives. so we need to be modeling what's going on in indiana? is that where reconcile from? >> and you know, it's a small community. they've figured out a way to make it happen. but there are also bigger cities like summerville, massachusetts where they are figuring out how to restructure that whole city so they are focused on health and physical activity, and we've got to do

that in cities and towns all across the country. and my question is what is the main cause of childhood obesity? is >> you know, i don't know that they know that there's one single cause for it. sometimes it's genetics. and a lot of time it's lifestyle. as i said before, things have changed the way we live as americans has changed. we walk less, sometimes because it's not safe to walk. sometimes it's because the schools your parents need to -- when i was little everybody went to the school in our neighborhood. but if you're being -- going to a magnet school or a church school or a new school

somewhere else, where, you know, you don't have the ability to walk, what do you do? you're in your parents' car or on a bus. and then you get to the school and there's no physical education. there's no p.e. there are no sports programs, and there were always those when i was growing up. you played outside before school. you had recess. you played during lunch time and in the playground after school. now kids are going straight home. to sit in front of the tv, do their homework and parents hmm. -- there are some parents trying to pay the bills and one or both parents have two jobs. so parents are busy and it's harder to get you guys where you have to go, so things have

changed in the society and slowly but surely i think that's a direct effect on how healthy kids are. we are eating more processed foods. fast food is no longer a treat. it's something that you do several times a week, because it's convent. >> and we got to sort of dial that back. we have to rethink those times to figure out how do we create healthy lifestyles in a twhoorled we live in today? how do we do that for you? and again, you tosme the question that i have for you is how do i get you to turn off the tv? how do i get you in this culture of all this tv and all these video gaels, what do i do as a mom to get you to move? i don't know. i'm working on it with my kids,

but you guys are going to have to help us figure out how to engage you in a way that's going to make this fun and not work so that you had want to do it and not feel like you're being forced to do it. >> we have about nine minutes left in our conversation with mrs. obama about childhood obesity. who will be our next question? >> you're going to be next in front of the camera. in the meantime we're going to hear from lauren in florida, advanced cable. middle school and a document therien with the film entitled "america's biggest challenge, obesity." >> hello. it is a great honor for me to speak with you as first lady. mrs. obama, my question is our country is facing talented economic times. with limited resources to address childhood obesity, what

measures would you take to make sthurlrm could -- having a platform of the white house is really helpful in getting attention to stuff, right? a lot of times when i do something, a lot of cameras show up and people tend to watch and write about it. sometimes they write more about what i'm wearing. [laughter] >> so i think it's my job to help shine the light on things that are already working. so that's one of the reasons why i chose this as my initiative. i also think that one of the reasons that i think we can move this effort, one of the reasons why i think that we can be successful is that it doesn't require -- i don't believe -- and others may have struggled with it more. it doesn't require full scale

changes in your life. the beauty about kids, you guys, is that you're young. your metabolisms are really healthy which generally means once you start moving and eating right, you guys change, really working and if we can make school lunch, it's better. if we get you guys educated about what to eat, these are all things we can control and doesn't take millions of dollars and a whole bunch of legislation to get it done. we don't have tocount on people passing stuffer, thank god, to move this problem along. and if we all get pitched up and empowered, right, we can move this issue along. that's why i'm so excited about it that's why i'mcounting on all of you.

my thing is if we get you thinking differently now, as middle schoolers and folks middle schoolers and folks getting to you are not going to carry these problems into your adulthood. you guys are the beginning of the solution. our goal is to ensure that kids born today grow up healthy. that means you are going to be taking the lead. if you are thinking differently about how you eat, if you are thinking about access and affordability, if you are thinking about growing your own food, if you are thinking consciously and making different choices and knowing that exercise isn't a luxury but a necessity to keep us alive and you have to find the thing you are going to do that gets you moving every day -- if you are growing up like that, you are not going to have the bad habits that a lot of grown people have a hard time getting rid of. we are trying to teach you guys

differently. that is not rocket science. that is good information and a coordinated effort. i think that the country, from what i can see, is ready to respond. people around the country -- i have not gotten a negative response from anybody. now members of congress. not people in the media. everybody believes this is an important issue and that they can help move it. they are ready to help make you guys help year. if all of us are on the line, there is no reason we should not be able to significantly change this trend in your lifetime. >> what is your question? >> howard deerfield -- how do you fieel about child obesity and adult obesity? do you think they are the same problem? >> i am not an expert on the science of this issue.

it is harder to break habits when you are older. the longer you do something, eat a certain way, get adjusted to a certain kind of food, get used to a certain taste, get used to not exercising -- it is hard to break that habit. food, get yourself to a certain taste, right? get used to not exercising. it's hard to break that habit. it's hard for grownups top make changes. you know? identity just is. you guys are still open. you're -- your brains still takeing in new information. trust me you can learn tow love vegetables. even though it doesn't feel that way. right now if you get used to the taste of a really sugery food, your taste buds are going adjust to that as being normal, right? but if you start drinking more

water and trying manufacture vege tbles. to where -- physical all you're eating is fast food and junk food that's just what you're going to want. so i just think it's easier top help people change habits earlier. that doesn't mean that it's not hard for kids to make different choices. it's just, if it's hard now, it's gonna really be hard when you get to be an adult, so why get there, right? why not stop it now? why not get you guys in the habit of exercising and moving now so that you're not struggling with these issues for the rest of your life. >> caltey ramos is with charter cable and a student, what's your question? >> good morning, mrs. obama. how do you think parents should address the issue of obesity

with young children? should they take a more obvious approach or softer approach not letting the child know the severity of the situation? >> well, it's a delicate balance because you want to make sure your kits feel great of yourself because you can't getal involved with how smsh deals with their kids but in the process we have to make sure our kids still feel good about themselves no matter what their weight or how they feel, we need to make sure our kids know we love them no matter who they are, what they are eating. that's really important. but what i found in my household is making small changes and involving my kids in the -- it's not a

punishment. i did it more as a -- let's figure out more how we can do this. do we really need this many sugery snacks? have we thought about what's in our food? and i tried to engage them in the process so it didn't feel like you're being punished for something, and that they felt more ownership over it. so i don't know that might be viewed as softer approach. but again, this isn't about how our kids look. this is about how our kids kneel, and it's about, you know, helping our kids take ownership over their lives and what they eat and making sure they have the information that they need to make those choices. .

[no audio] [no audio]

>> it is one of those dilemmas of humankind -- the thing that is best for us does not always taste the best. that is life, right? those are the beginnings of the lessons of life. there is a lot of stuff you really need to do that you do not want to do. but you really need to do it. i am sure your parents have told you that. they are right. eating right is one of those things. in my household, there are no absolute no's. we eat a lot of fun stuff, just stuff, fun stuff and desserts are on the weekend. we set up basic rules. sometimes you break that because of their special location or a birthday party at school, there is no way i will tell my kids that they cannot have take at that party. it would never work.

this is how we live in this country. hopefully, you develop that sense of balance. you know you cannot have candy every day and you would ruin your tea that you make your parents mad at you will not be healthy. >> thank you for your documentary that brought up all of us together today. congratulations and mrs. obama, on behalf of our students here and around the country, thank you for your hospitality. [applause] >> i will come shake some hands, okay? is that all right? how are you guys doing? it is good to see you. thanks so much. thank you for all your work and focus on these issues. is school going? everything is good? is it exciting?

hi guys, how are you? thank you so much for bringing these guys. already. are you ready to make a change? you going to help us? that is good. >that is why we need you. i save up long words and this is perfect we should launch a campaign or do something. all right, will you follow those basic rules? does that help you remember? >> uh-huh. >> it is good to see you. are you got guys? -- how are you, guys? thank you so much. a good job. how are you guys doing? yes tech's does any of this

makes sense to you? yes? >> i have a question. >> what was your question? >> when you were trying to get your family to eat right, did that inspire you to make it happen for the whole country? >> absolutely, that was exactly what happened. and you guys keep me inspired because you guys are clear, smart, and we need you to be healthy so you can run the country and a few years. yes? >> i have a question. sometimes the school lunches do not have smart choices. what can kids do in this case? >> maybe they need some ideas. sometimes when you -- when i was packing a lunch for my kids, it was quick and easy. that was all we were thinking about. one thing we do through this

program is we will do these action plans. people can get on line to about what can i pack for lunch that is easy and quick. if we encourage kids to go online and get some new ideas and the share the ideas -- i know -- what makes a good lunch? we need to share that information. [applause] it is nice to see you guys. >> my friend wants to apologize. >> why? i did not even hear it. it is good to see you guys for it i will try to shake and before i lay. they will shuttle me off. i am sorry, sweetie. thanks, you guys. thank you for being here. thank you, guys. i am proud of you all. keep working.

how are you? it is good to see you. how're you doing, little lady? yes text hey guys in the back. thank you so much. you guys will take the lead on this. >> are the cameras following you around an annoyance? >> short risure. that is because of the secret service provide. it is good to see you all. >> thank you so much. >> are you guys poppy shcolars? >> i did that principle when you

go from the south side of chicago to princeton, you need a posse. thank you for your work, as well. congratulations. you guys had great questions. thank you so much. it is good to see you guys. thanks, guys. thank you all. thank you for coming and asking great questions. it is good to see you. you guys, thank you so much. we are proud of you all. can you guys help us out on this? i think so. it is good to see you. thanks again. thank you guys. he did a great job there it thank you guys. >> on sunday, another chance to see first lady michelle obama meet with students. that is at 10:30 a.m. eastern here on c-span.

tomorrow, on "washington journal," a look at what to expect when congress returns from easter. following that, international atomic energy agency department of security director anita nils son on strengthening nuclear security. a discussion on employing returning veterans with brian stan. that is at 7:00 a.m. eastern, here on c-span. >> ♪ don't forget about jobs. hell no. ♪ >> what is more ridiculous right now than american politics? >> for the past year, the gregory brothers have become viral hit makers with auto tune

the news. we will talk to them sunday night on "q and a." >> next, highlights from the southern republican leadership conference in new orleans. a straw poll for the presidential election selected mitt romney as their front runner for the republican nomination. runners-up included ron paul, sarah palin, and newt gingrich. from day 3 of the conference, remarks from congressman paul and the recovery -- and the national committee chairman michael steele. . . ♪ ♪ >> thank you.

i am does going to tell the truth. -- i am just going to tell the truth. for me, the governor of mississippi, to be back in new orleans this weekend is a orleans this weekend is a bittersweet occasion, reminds me of what we and our neighbors in a louisiana shared in th20052005. -- in 2005. i want to say to all of you, our sister states or great partners to us. we want to thank you for all

that you did. i want to say thank you to the federal government. a federal government gets a very bad rap about what happened after hurricane katrina. the federal government was very generous to us after the storm. i want to say thank you for that. there is something to be learned from that. one of the problems we have got in our country is that people do not think there is any need for it stewardship with the public money. i am proud to tell you that in mississippi, where we received $ 27 billion of your money, the error rate in spending is less than 1%. wouldn't it be nice if the federal government did something where the error rate was less than 1%?

i apologize for it taking the time to talk about the natural disaster, but let's face it. we are here today because we need to talk about a man-made disaster. the policies of this administration and the pelosi- read congress and are a disaster for our country. everyone here recognizes it. you are concerned for your children and grandchildren. you may not note that the first southern republican leadership conference ever held and was held here in new orleans in 1969. you would be interested to know that there are three times more people registered today than there were then, because you understand what the stakes are for our country. you know this is the place to start to take our country back. [applause] if i only get one thing across

to you today in my brief time, it is that we have to stay focused on the election of 2010. do not worry about 2012. the election we have to be focused on is the election of 2010. we cannot wait until 2012 to start taking our country back. [applause] probably most of you all are not old enough to remember "the ed sullivan show," but to be here in the hilton hotel in in your lens -- in in your lens -- in new orleans remind me about when conrad hilton was on that show. he was the bill gates of that today. he had created a new business of a luxury hotel chain.

ed sullivan had him on in the show and turned to him and said, "mr. helton, if you could tell the american people only one thing, what would you tell them ." conrad hilton never blinked. he said, "put your show or curtain inside of the tub -- your shower curtain inside the tupb." [laughter] there is a man who knew how to keep his eye on the ball. one thing matters to us in the next six months, and that is winning the critical 2010 elections. do not take your eye off the ball. [applause] of big part of this of course, for me, as chairman of the republican governor's

association, is the fact that there are 37 and governor's races this year. i will tell you, as somebody who was chairman of our party the last time we were similarly situated, in 1994. governor races matter. more of you see your governor, and get organized with your governor's people, then any other politician in that you have to deal with. governors matter. governors deal with real problems. while the obama administration is on a spending spree that is out of control, so much that it gives an drunken sailors a bad name, what are governors doing? i can tell you that i became governor with david massive

deficit. -- with a massive deficit. we balanced the budget without raising anybody's's taxes. [applause] we did it by controlling spending. this year, since our legislature passed our budget, i have had to cut the budget 9%. you can do it. businesses do it. families and do it. the government can do it. bobby jindal has cut his budget. mark sanford, charlie chris, and others have cut the budget by more than $10 billion. the governors and step up to the plate and make tough decisions. at the same time, in washington, the idea that you could cut

spending it drives cold chills up their spines, those of them that have spines. [laughter] [applause] think about, isn't this administration has been in the, stimulus reported think about it, since this administration has been in -- think about it. since this administration has been in, every month they were spending trillions of dollars. now the president has produced a new budget for this coming year. it has a $1.6 trillion dollar deficit. do you know that when newt

gingrich was speaker of the house, the entire federal budget was 1.6 trillion dollars? now these people are proposing that as a deficit. our children, our grandchildren, and our grand children's children will have to pay it. it is going to make our debt harder to sell to the chinese or to anybody else. some people say this is just the kind of inflation we had under jimmy carter. the american people know it is wrong, and they want to put a stop to this. [applause] they want to put a stop to this, and the place to put a stop starts here.

we have a tremendous candidate. you are going to see around the country, obviously the gubernatorial candidates. there are people with outstanding records, the kind of people you can be proud of, the kind of people that will step up to the plate and bite the bullet the way they have done in new jersey and virginia. they got elected to control spending. they made the cut. they are getting their states back on the right track. of course come up many of us still have health care reform on our -- of course, many of us still have health care reform on our minds, because it is another gigantic spending bill. they used gimmicks to act like

it is only a trillion dollars spending bill. it will be twice that. but more importantly, it is going to drive up to the cost of health care. it is going to make your premiums go up. . . >> they are going to spend at

more than they take in than was predicted several years ago. they will have to take $15 billion in losses because of the health care reform bill. caterpillar just announced that they are going to have to cut back health insurance spending for their company because=ç of e wasp -- because of the losses they are going to take because of the health care reform bill. you know, the democrats keep telling us -- the more people learn about the health bill, the more they will like it. i think just the opposite is true. no, when they meet at 16,000 new irs agents to enforce the health care bill, how could that be the case if the american people are going to like it? [laughter] [applause] my hat is off to our friends in congress -- mike pence.

is he not great? is he not just great? [applause] john boehner, mitch mcconnell, jon kyl, lamar alexander -- that we're going to keep focused. ron paul, sure. [applause] the ones in congress who are replace this law with good policy that need to have our support. i hope you will support us governors who are litigating this in the federal -- in the federal courts. [applause] any of you that have the opportunity to study history and the history of our constitution understand that, in our constitution, we have limited government. the constitution, which comes from the people, through the

states, gives whatever powers the federal government has and no more -- and no more. it is a matter of limited government. i believe, as do a number of my colleagues, that there is nowhere in the united states constitution, including the commerce clause, that says that the federal government has the power or authority to force every citizen to buy certain products, whether it is health insurance or any other product. [applause] and we are going to litigate and we are going to litigate that in the united states supreme court. i like our chances. we have a constitution that requires limited government. our government is a government

for the people not the people for the government. the power comes from the people in america. we will keep working hard on this. the good news is that much of it does not take effect for years. the bad news is that it got past. i was glad to hear congressman stupak say that he was going to retire but i hope that he said that he was sorry. their energy policy is predicated on the idea that we should drive up the cost of energy so that americans will use less. every time that has happened has been because of recession or depression. we are at a government that uses a lot less energy than we used

to but we used to have an economy that runs on energy. barack obama said during the campaign to the san francisco chronicle, er my cap and trade plan, electricity rates will necessarily skyrocket. the secretary said in 2008 -- the new secretary of energy -- what we really need in america is to get the price of gasoline up to where it is in europe. well, we do not need that in mississippi. i can tell you that. for dollar gasoline brought us to our knees -- $4 gasoline brought us to our knees. these are predicated on government spending and no concern about what it costs. what energy -- what energy costs

you, what health care costs you -- it is all about more government power, more government spending. for myself, i believe that the right energy policy is more american energy. [applause] that will make america work. let me close by reiterating what i said to you. i hope nobody here at spends one with the time -- one whit of time thinking about the 2012 presidential election. we can take care of that after the november, 2010 elections. [applause] the critical issues i have touched on tiptoe -- i have touched on, tiptoed on -- we have to start fighting those now. we have to win this election.

what ought @ @ @ @ being from mississippi, i am -- being from mississippi, one mississippian i am proud of is fred smith, the founder and ceo of fed ex. fred has an expression i want to share with you. the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. [laughter] [applause] the main thing is to keep the main thing of the main thing. it did not get distracted by 2012 is what he is saying. do not take your eye off the ball. remember what matters. how do we win in 2010? we stick together. [applause]

we werork, we work, we work. we organize. we give it. we campaign. some of you will run for public office. we welcome every single one of you. that conservative unity has to be part of the conservative energy. i can tell you -- [applause] the democrat's fondest hope is to see tea party or other conservatives split off and have a third party to split the conservative bas upe. barack obama -- a split the conservative base. barack obama has been down on his knees praying for the conservative vote to be split in

2010. we cannot let that happen. we cannot let that happen. we have to stay unified. [applause] we have a tremendous opportunity. as you know, i was chairman of the party the last time we were here in 1994. and i am very proud, and i think republicans have our right to be proud of newt gingrich and all the people involved in 1994. i will tell you about this fact of which i have no fear of contradiction. the political environment in america of april 2010 -- april, 2010, is better for republicans than it was in april, 1994. [applause] i say that to you -- and i will tell you, that has been primarily driven by policy --

bad policy. it has been driven by what the obama administration in nancy pelosi and harry reid and the democratic majority -- by the policies they have tried to cram down the country's throat. people are energized people up -- people are energize your people are agitated. -- people are energized. people are agitated. people are also scared. are there children and want -- are their children and grandchildren going to inherit the same opportunities that we have benefited from so greatly? that energy -- the wind at our back is far greater today than it was in spring, 1994. but the election is not today. the election is nearly seven months away. how are we going to keep the environment like this? how are we going -- this wind

that is at our backs -- how are we going to make sure it fills up our sails? first of all, we have to work. we have to work. we have to work together. we have to welcome everybody that wants to work with us. we have to recognize sometimes somebody that has never been involved before may run in the primary and beat the incumbent republican. when they do, they become our candidate. they become our candidate. [applause] we got to -- we got to say to people in the tea party or any other group of independents or people who have never been republicans, or four republicans, or democrats, for that matter -- people that think like us at, who believed in what we believe in -- we have to

welcome them, and not just make them feel welcome. they have to be welcome. they have to have an opportunity to participate at. they need the same time in the batter's box that i get in the batter's box. [applause] that is what it takes. it takes unity. now, in a two-party system, both parties are necessarily coalitions. not everybody in the republican party is as conservative as haley barbour. i will tell you something else. you cannot elect haley barbour governor of vermont. [laughter] we have to understand that every state is not as conservative as mine. if you're going to put together a majority, if we are going to put together a majority, we need to be sure that people -- as ronald reagan used to say, a

fellow who agrees with you 80 percent of the time is your friend and ally. [applause] we, as a party, need to welcome the people who want to get rid of the folks who are in office now. we need to make them feel welcome and we need to make them be welcome. give them something to do. give them a chance to participate. and with what they are doing. i can tell you, in my state that tea party has tremendous energy and have been great partners for republicans in putting a ballot initiative on with conservative ideas. [applause] i am here today more as a former

party chairman then as governor, because i am so focused on winning. if we did not win, we cannot fix things. [applause] you cannot be a statement until you hold an office of state, we used to say. [laughter] and we all need to, yes, we have to stand up for what we believe in. we have to let the things that unite us be the things that we emphasize. with conservative unity, we will start taking this country back, with there were majority of republican governors in november -- with a majority of republican governors, a majority in the house of representatives in november, a majority in the u.s. senate in november. this is within our grasp. [applause]

this is within our grasp. but this message of unity is so important, and we cannot let it -- we cannot let ourselves be torn apart by the idea of purity. in a two-party system, both parties are necessarily coalitions. we want our coalition to drive our policies of conservative spending, borrowing, debt -- go down the list, from national security to the social issues that mike was talking about -- we have to get more than 50% of the vote for our policies to become the policies that will save the this great nation --

will save this great nation for our grandchildren. please lea thank you [applause] [applause] >> thank you. good afternoon. y'all can do better than that. good afternoon. that that sounds like we're going to win in november, 2010.

that's what i am talking about. we hold these truths to be self- evident -- that all men and women are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. it did not say anything about a guarantee. [laughter] and i do not know and i have not been able to find anywhere in the constitution where it says, in washington, d.c., we are supposed to have a department of happy. [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] it is not there

i love it when i get calls and they say that the american dream is under attack. i say that that is right. then they ask me what can we do. i say that you take this same document and you keep reading. if you keep reading you will find out that it says when any form of government becomes destructive of the is pence, it is up to the people to alter or abolish it. we need to alter it and abolish it. [applause] did you notice that i said the second paragraph without a teleprompter.

maybe someone else should read the declaration of independence. maybe they should read the constitution. as we say on my radio show, if they read the constitution and the declaration, they@@@@@ @ u)r my father was the greatest example of that. that is where i got my passion from. he walked off the farm where the clothes off his back. he and my mom ended up settling in atlanta, georgia where they raised my brother and i. my father used to work three jobs. he was a barber, a janitor, and a chauffeur, all at the same time. he knew that in order to pursue

his dream, he had to use the only kind of equity that he had which was sweat. he did achieve his american dream. and now we have a president and administration and a congress who want us to expand our sweat more and more for the government instead of for ourselves. have got to alter that scenario. [applause] and so i believe that even though the american dream is under attack, the american dream is not dead. and we have got to defend it. that is why many of you all are here and that is why i am here. that is why we do what we do. that is to defend the american dream. how do we do that? i am going to give you three

suggestions -- three simple ideas. as we look toward november, 2010, i could not agree with my friend haley barbour more -- our focus has to be on november, 2010. we have to change the balance of power in washington, d.c. that is job number one. [applause] now, three things we have to do. we have to stay connected. stay connected. we have to stay together. that is what the liberals and dems want us to do. they want to pick the rubble of an party against the tea party -- they want to get the republican party against the tea party. you have a right wing constituency, a left-wing constituency -- the are trying to put a face on conservatism in america. if that does not work, they try to find another face the book on it. they are trying to divide us and

we have to stay connected in order to win. stay connected. [applause] secondly, we have got to stay informed. you see, if you do not stay informed on the issues, you just might be tempted to bring some liberal kool-aid by accident. you just might be tempted drink some liberal kool-aid by accident. we have got to stay informed. i could not believe what i heard nancy pelosi say about the health care deform legislation before it was passed. we have got to pass it, so we can then tell you what is in it. [laughter] i wrote a book titled, "and they

think you are stupid." i need to rename it. nancy believes we are all stupid. this is why we have to stay informed. their strategy is to take in vantage -- take advantage of the misinformed and under-informed, and people who do not have a clue who can connect the dots. we have to stay informed. [applause] when people have the right information, thomas jefferson said, they will make the right decisions. that that is our job. i am glad that i am a radio talk-show host and had the opportunity to follow the health care bill ever since they introduced it in all of the -- ever since the introduced at and all the different modifications. you have the house version, the

senate version, the reconciliation bill. because i am on the radio five nights a week out atlanta, i needed to follow it to help people understand. many people are busy trying to run their lives. they are busy trying to take care of raising their children and pay for their education. we have to stay informed as to what is going on. i am glad that i did. when they were passing this health care deform legislation, one reason i am so passionate about this -- not only about the health care deform legislation, but also about the cap and trade and tax and kill bill that they passed on a party-line vote -- is i have personal experience. if obama care had been in place, if you would be listening to somebody else in this time slot. [laughter] back in 2006, i was diagnosed

with stage for cancer -- stage four cnceancer in my colon and liver. my first surgeon said that was as bad as it gets. i got another surgeon to give me a second opinion. [laughter] the second surgeon at least said, you have a 5% chance of even being alive in three years from now. i said, doc, what is the game plan? that is the business dna kicking in. how do we solve the problem? he said, we want to give you chemotherapy and see how that works to make sure we have isolated the right one. then we will do surgery. we will take out 30% of your colon, 70% of your liver. you'll recuperate and then we will give you more chemotherapy.

and then, if you are blessed, you might have a chance to be around for awhile. you see, as of january the first, 2010 -- 2007, for three years, three months, and 10 days, i have been totally cancer-free. [cheers and applause] there are two reasons for that. two reasons that i am standing here today. . the number one reason is god said, not yet, herman. you got some work to do. not yet. and number two, we do not have a

health care crisis in america. we have a health care cost crisis in america, and obama care would have killed me. i would be dead. [applause] we have got to stay informed so we can fight the battle. you know, one thing when you are dealing with fighting liberals, they love to shift the subject, ignored the facts, and call names. uc get all the time. i call it -- you see it all the time. i call it sin tactics. janine rafah low -- garofalo. when she accused the tea baggers and conservatives of being racist, redneck, tea baggers.

i had to go look in the mirror to see if i missed something. [laughter] they name call. they cannot defend this bad legislation on fact, because to paraphrase jack nicholson, the cannot handle the facts. so they name call and shift the subject. first, stay connected. second, stay informed so that you do not drink the kool-aid. third, state inspired -- stay inspired. they want you to believe that we cannot take back control of congress. we have to stay inspired and believe that we can take it back. when my dad walked off of that part at the age of 18, he believed that he could achieve his american dream.

one of his dreams was to give his sons a little bit better start in life than he had. and he did. that is one of my dreams -- to give my kids and grandkids little bit better start in life. that is what you are fighting for, to be able to protect and defend the american dream, so that you can give your kids and grandkids a little bit better start in life in the greatest country in the world. [cheers and applause] so, we have to stay inspired. state inspired. the way we stay inspired -- we have to have bumblebee power. when i was a student at morehouse college, i majored in mathematics and minor in physiced in physics. ability is not supposed to fly -- a bumblebee is not supposed to fly.

but we see them fly all the time. physics and mathematics students have been trying to prove that of a bumblebee can fly, even though we know that it can. they will take equations of motion, the same equations that designed of those airplanes you flew here on and will fly back on, so they take those equations and take bumblebees and put them on a wind tunnel and get their critical measurements. the measurements of their wings and their aerodynamic properties. they put them into the equations of motion and run the program. the program says, the sucker can't fly. [laughter] so they think they made a mistake. then the next year, a professor would find another ph.d. student who said to another student to do the same thing.

they do it again. they put it in a bigger and faster computer. the bigger and faster computer comes back with another message -- the sucker still cannot fly. there is only one reason that the ball being -- the bumble bee flies. the bumblebee believes he can fly. [applause] he believes he can fly. i believe we have the greatest country in the world. and i believe that in november, 2010, we're going to take back our government and i believe that america is not going down -- not now, not ever.

and i believe in the deaths of my heart -- depths of my heart into the bottom of my soul, that the american people -- some people call it the tea party movement, some call it the intelligent thinkers movement, the americans for prosperity movement -- the american people are sending a very clear message to the people who are controlling our house of representatives, controlling our united states senate. the message is clear. we're going to send it today. we're going to send it in april, march, june, july, august -- all the way up to november. we, the people, are still in charge of this country. [cheers and applause]

i forgot one thing. we have a lot of things to do and i agree with haley barbour. stay focused on 2010. you have a lot of great speakers. we have a lot of great people who are going to try to help us take back the white house in 2012. but we do not need to focus on that. keep one thing in mind when you get to 2011. there are a lot of people that might be interested in seeking the republican nomination, but i want you to remember one thing --kzñ there might also be a dark horse candidate you do not know about. [cheers and applause] , dr. ron paul. [applause]

[applause] >> thank you very much. thank you. >> [crowd chanting "ron paul'] >> thank you. it sounds like a freedom rally. thank you very much. well, it is great to see some much enthusiasm for the freedom movement and limited government. i would like to thank the host of this conference for inviting me. my wife is here with me today

and i am pleased with that as well. [applause] this last week there was a report that came out on friday, just yesterday. it came from the treasury. it even shocked me having been concerned about deficits like 35 years ago. yesterday, it was reported by the treasury that this past week at our national debt went up $106 billion in one day. in one day. i would say it is time to it end that kind of spending and get rid of the deficits. [cheers and applause] getting rid of the deficits is easily said. i guess everybody wants to get rid of the deficits. there is an effort in washington today, and our side of the

aisle, which is well-intended, might do some good, but i think it comes up with too shorts. that is dwelling on earmarked -- but i think it comes up too short. that is willing on your marks. -- dwelling on earmarks. you end up giving the money to the executive branch who will wasted even more than congress will -- who will waste it even more than congress will. earmarks are the responsibility of the congress. we're supposed to designate every single penny that we spend. we're not supposed to let the president do this. i do not like a strong executive branch. i want a strong congress that exerts its prerogative. [cheers and applause] what we need is not to tinker with earmarks, but to vote

against the entire package, the of preparation bills, until we get the budget under control -- the appropriation bills, until we get the budget under control. also, the definition of an era armark is very important. it is when your congressman says, why do we not get some of our highway funds back and spend it in our district. when it comes to earmark for building an embassy, which we are now doing in london, which is a fortress, it is going to cost as $1 billion. what are we doing that? it makes no sense whatsoever. we're tinkering around with some spending bills here and trying to build a highway. we have spent $1 billion on an embassy in baghdad. we're spending and another $1 billion on an embassy in

kabul, which does not make sense unless you think we have unlimited funds. we do not. this is the message that is coming today. [cheers and applause] the reason why the american people have awoken and are so upset and annoyed and are acting outside the party system is because the country b isroke and the people in washington -- is because the country is broke and the people in washington will not admit it. we have two good choices, if you think we should have a balanced budget. one, we raise taxes. i have not met republican that wants to raise taxes, then goodness. the other side of the coin is, cut spending. now, if we were so good at cutting spending, where were we when we had that chance? we have created -- [applause]

as republicans, we have created a credibility gap. we talked a good game. but when we get the chance to do something, we have not done the job that we should have. i will tell you what, though, we are doing a better job now, in opposition. the credibility is -- when we get the chance again, which i believe we will, how credible are we going to be? how well are we going to stick to our guns? how significant are we going to -- are we going to take our oaths of office seriously? if we did nothing else but to let individuals who you could trust that what all obey the constitution, -- that would always obey the constitution, we would get out of this mess in no time.

[cheers and applause] the question has been raised as to whether or not our president is a socialist. i am sure that some people here believed it. i know that this concord -- this conference has talked about that already. he deserves a lot of criticism. in the technical sense, in the economic definition of what a socialist is -- he is not the socialists. what he is is a corporatist. we have corporatists in the republican party, meaning you take care of corporations and a takeover and run the country. we see that in the financial institutions and the military- industrial complex. [cheers and applause] and now, we see it in the

medical-industrial complex, who runs maedicine. think of how corporations gap between the doctor and the patient -- got between the doctor and patient. . the simple answer would have been to reject it. the next thing would be to throw

it out. that is not going to happen. there is going to be one piece of legislation i will introduce. it will probably be only one page long. [ears and applause] it will be to remove the mandate that you have to participate if you do not want to. [applause] i have a belief that if we always retain the option to get out, no matter how bad the government bears down on us, we can survive. have you noticed education is a mess since the federal government got involved in it? do you remember the old days of

the republican party when our platform said to get rid of the department of education? [cheers and applause] fortunately, we have had the private auction protected. you still have the right to opt out, educate your own kids, or send them to private school. [applause] in medicine, we need that same option. you need to be able to opt out of the system. they talk about the public option. everyone knew that was a term for a total socialized medicine. they did not win that fight. the corporations won the fight and benefited. if we allowed the people to get out of the system, this means

you could have medical savings accounts and deducted from your taxes. this would be so much better. they talked about the public option semi-times. how many times did they talk about protecting the private option? [applause] if we are going to get back to a balance, the constitution would get us there. we have to decide where to cut. when have we cut anything over the last 34 years? -- would have to cut anything over the last 30 or 40 years? we have accepted the notion that government should be doing all of these things. government really does reflect the prevailing attitude of the people. if a politician wants to run for congress and says i am going to vote against all of the

spending, traditionally, that guy lost. something is stirring now. in this election this year, that does not hurt your chances of being reelected or elected. [applause] we only have two problems in washington with spending. we have conservatives and liberals. they both like to spend. they spend money on different things. they like embassies, occupation, the empire. they like to be in 135 countries and 700 places. did you hear the news? just this weekend, there was a revolution in kurdistan -- kyrgistan.

we have bases over there. we are running out of money. no matter how badly you like to have them, all empires anend for financial reasons. that is what things are telling us today. [applause] if you want a strong national defense, it should be designed for defense and not to support preventative wars. it should not be to support wars better undeclared. it is rather conservative to say that it is good to follow the constitution except for war. let the president to work anytime he wants. if you want to the war, only congress can declare the war. the fight it. when it and get out of there.

-- go fight it, whenin it, and get out of there. [cheers and applause] ron paul, ron paul! >> politically, it is much easier and makes more sense to cut the militarism and the bases overseas than to cut child welfare here at home. i do not hesitate for a minute. i know we would be stronger for it. when we went to korea, i was in high school. that was 60 years ago. we're still there.

it costs us a lot of money. what we have to have troops there? we do not have troops in vietnam. we came back to vietnam. people were embarrassed about that. the imam, in our feet, are better friends and more capitalistic the north korea. north korea is not our friend. 20 years of the french and american trying to tell the vietnamese have to be westernized failed at a horrible cost to us. we have won more in peace than in war. they are our trading partners now. we can do better with peace and with war -- thank wit with war.